When Cartier first opened its Parisian flagship at 13 Rue de la Paix in 1899, it wasn’t just a retail opening but a historical moment in which the jeweler would assert itself as one of the most iconic in a lifetime. At this location, Louis Cartier (and later Jeanne Toussaint) established the house’s identity alongside his father, Alfred, that would continue to be upheld 123 years later (and counting).
And now, after more than two years of renovation, the flagship is reopening to reveal a major overhaul. From the outside, the building looks very much the same, maintaining the same neoclassical, Portoro marble facade that is now signature to the house. But within, there’s no longer a central staircase or clusters of small, wood-paneled rooms as established by the space’s last renovation in 2005. Instead, there’s light—and a lot of it. At the top of the 32,300-square-foot space, there’s a brand-new atrium with a skylight, flooding the airy, six-story space with natural light. Mimicking the feel of a Parisian courtyard, the updated interior also incorporates mirrored windows that overlook the ground floor.
While the flagship highlights its engagement and wedding jewelry offerings, naturally, it also hosts a high jewelry workshop, a residence (in a private space with a dining room, kitchen, and garden that feels like an intimate apartment), a customization bar, archival items, and more throughout.
The renovation of the Paris flagship marks the last of three recent flagship renovations for Cartier: Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue mansion was completed in August 2021, and London’s New Bond Street location was finished in 2018.
Top: The bright and spacious courtyard at Cartier’s renovated 13 Rue de la Paix flagship in Paris features a new atrium and skylight and mirrored windows for both privacy and aesthetics.
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